US2436667A - Electric vehicle turn indicator - Google Patents

Description

Feb- 24, 1948- -P. A. PETERSON ET A1.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE TURN AINDICIDTOR Filed May ll, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb 24, 1948. P. A. PETERSON ET A1.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE TURN INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi1ed May 11, 1945 Patented Feb. 24, 1948 OFFICE ELECTRIC VEHICLE TURN INDICATOR Peter A. Peterson and Herman Siebert, South St. Paul, Minn.

Application May 11, 1945, Serial No. 593,270

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to signals for vehicles particularly for use on automobiles or other motor vehicles driven on streets and highways.

The object of the invention is to provide a direction indicating signal for use on an automotive vehicle to denote the intention of the driver of the vehicle with regard to turning either to the right or left or of stopping or reducing his speed for the benefit and instruction of the driver lof Aa following or oncoming or approaching vehicle with the general purpose of preventing or minimizing accidents due to collisions, and in that connection to provide a device for this purpose which can be controlled and operated by the driver of the vehicle without necessitating the removal of his left hand from the steering wheel or controlling levers or other instrumentalities which are essential to the driving and control of the vehicle for the purpose of extending the same outwardly to eiect a manual signalling by hand- In carrying out the invention, an indicator member preferably in the form of a hand is provided with extensible means for projecting the indicator out beyond the side of the vehicle into such a position as to be readily seen from both iront and back. The projecting or extending means may be attached to any suitable part of the vehicle body preferably the cowl and is operated by a motor driven mechanism controlled by the operator of the vehicle. To be clearly visible at night, the indicator is provided with an electric light so positioned as to cast its light on both sides of the indicator to make it plainly observable irom either direction.

With the foregoing and other -objects in View, the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details oi construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein in the drawings- Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the signalling apparatus in inoperative position mounted on a vehicle body.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the extension means of the signalling apparatus shown in operative position.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the mounting of the extension means on an extending rod or bar and the spring return arrangement for the extension means.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the switch control box showing details of the operating mechanism.

gCl. 177-327) Fig, 5 is a cross-sectional View through the switch control box taken on line 5 5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail view taken on line 6 6, Fig, 4, showing locking means for the extending rod.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional View through the lamp housing, supporting lenses, and light bulb therein, taken on line -Jl, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing it denotes a portion of the body wall of an automobile or other vehicle preferably at the cowl portion to which is attached on the inside thereof a switch control box Il having integral therewith a guide sleeve i2 terminating in a bracket I3. On the outer side of the body wall l0 there is provided a supporting bracket lli, L-shaped in form, having a laterally extending wall I5 and an attaching wall i5. The brackets i4 and I3 are arranged in opposed relation and are attached to the body wall l by bolts Il.

Mounted for reciprocating movement in the guide sleeve l2 of the switch control box ii is an extending rod or bar 2e, the inner end of which extends within said box while the outer end thereof projects outwardly through suitable openings in the body wall lil and attaching wall iS of the supporting bracket lll, see Fig. 8. rl'he outer end of the bar 2i) is provided with a lateral extension 2l terminating in a flat eye 22 in which is mounted a pivot pin 23, which pivotally supports the crossed central portions oi the inner links Zd of a lazy-tongs linkage 25. Pivotally connected as at 26 to the outermost ends of the links 2li are the ends of a, pair guiding and supporting links 2l which are arranged in crossed reation and pivoted as at 28 to the central portion i9 of the supporting bracket wall l5; the free ends of the links 2'! being adapted to have bearing engagement with said supporting bracket wall i5 as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The arrangement `of the pivots 23 and 28 of the lazy-tongs 25 is such that they lie in the same horizontal plane.

Carried by the outer end of the lazy-tongs 25 is an indicator 3Q which in this instance is represented as a hand formed of metal or any other suitable material. The indicator Sii is placed on the same side of the lazy-tongs 25 as the bar 20 and is pivotally secured at its base to the common pivot 32 of the links 33 of the lazy-tongs 25 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Formed in the body-portion of the indicator hand 39 is a circular opening 34 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The outer ends of the main links 33 are pivotally connected to end links 35 which are in turn pivotally connected together as at 35.

A circular lamp housing 37 provided with a lens 38 on each side thereof and containing an electric light bulb (not shown) is provided with an arm 39 attached to the end pivot pin 36 in such a manner as to maintain the lamp housing 31 in horizontal position at all times irrespective of the position of the lazy-tongs 25. The diameter of the lenses 38 is made substantially equal to the diameterof the opening 34 inthe indicatorliand such that when saidindicator hand 3i) Vislormiglit into operative position in the manner to be hereinafter described, the opening 34 and the lenses 38 of the lamp housing 3l Willgbe `Vin registry, whereby when the light bulb Within the lamp housing l is lit the same will Vbevisibleatfthe center of the indicator hand 30 from both`sides thereof. Preferably the lensesS are madevoffred glass or other red colored transparent material so as to ash red when the light bulb is lit.

The indicator hand '30 is formed at its lower end with a circular base '49, the pivot pin 32 mounting the same at its center to the lazy-tongs 25. Formed in the periphery of the circular base dll-is a groove lll in which is positioned asmall tension coil spring 42, one end of Ywhich isf/astened to the top end of the grooveAas-atl43, Vsee Fig. 2, while the other end of the spring "4Z is fastened to an intermediate portion ofa link 44 of the lazy-tongs as at 45. A flexible'cable 146 is attached at one end to thespring connection :i5 and at its other end to a point-in the bottom portion of the groove 4| as at 4l. Thus, with the lazy-tongs 25 in collapsed position, see Fig.1, the indicator hand 30 is upright and slightly inclined towards the vehicle bodywall l0. When the lazy-tongs 25 is extended by Virtue of outward movement of thebar 20 in the manner/as will be hereinafter described, the extension of the links of the lazy-tongs will cause the ilexible cable l5 to unwind and straighten out and to thereby rotate the indicator hand 30 aboutvits pivot 32 into its horizontal operative position against the tension of the coil spring 42. Upon collapsing or inward movement of the lazy-tongs, the retraction of the tension coil spring 42v will rotate the indicator handback to its uprightinoperative position in the nanner readily f apparent.

The control and operating mechanism "for the lazy-tongs and light bulb is housed within the control box Il. The inner end of the reciprocating bar 25 as shown in Fig. 4 is horizontally disposed adjacent the top of the controlbox :Il and is provided with a depending lug 50rigidly secured to said bar adjacent its end. Positioned laterally of and in spaced relation to the barV 2l) is a worm wheel 5l of relatively large diameter supported on a shaft 52 the ends'of which'iare suitably mounted in bearings 53. A worm 54 meshes with the worm wheel 5|, said worm being driven by a iiexible drive shaft 55 connected to an electric motor 56 and'supported in xed bearings 5l on each side of said worm. vThe electric motor 56 is located exteriorly ofthe control box ll at any suitable position inthe Vehicle.

Fitted on the face of the worm .gear '5| adjacent the bar 20 and in normal relation .thereto are a plurality of equally spaced pegs 58 each rigidly secured to said worm gear and so Hpositioned thereon as to engage the lug 50 on the bar 25 when the latter is in its innermost position as indicated by the dotted lines, 'see Fig. '4. Viewing Fig. 4, the worm gear 5l is driven counter-clockwise, so that, when a peg 58 engagesithe lug 5o it will impart an outward axial movement to the bar 25 to a point where the peg .clears the lug which is in the position of the partslshown in solid lines. This outward movement of the bar 25,by virtue of its-connection'to Vthelazytongs 25 will extend the same to the position thereof shown in Fig. 2. To reduce friction the pegs 58 may be provided with rollers (not shown) adapted to engage the lug 50.

, 50 pivotally supported intermediate its ends as at ""l on a bracket 62 attached to a wall of the con- ."trol .box ll. IThe end of the latch 60 opposite the lug 50 is formed with a lateral shoulder S3 ithetolteredge-of which is inclined as at 64, and

"theinnr edge 65 lying normal to the latch 60. V'2[hns,f-a.s .the .lug-50 engages the inclined edge 64 of the latch 65 -it will swing the same counterclockwise about its pivot 6l, so that when the lug 50 clears the inclined edge 64, the latch 60 willbefforced backfunder. the action of the spring `IGBT-whereby theedge 55'of1the shoulder 63. will engage .thelu'g 5i to hold the bar inposition. yReferring to Fig. l 2 itvv will be-noted that va :tension EScoilsp'ring :3l is: positioned between the bar -2l) a'nciA lazy-.tongs'25- with its ends respectively conlne'ctedito'the; pivots 23. and 28, said spring acting 'as a-'returnmeans .for the bar 25 and lazy-tongs. Thelatchll, therefore, further acts toprevent inward movement of the bar V20 .under the action `of the return springll. When the latch 50 is releasedA in'the manner `to be hereinafter described, the spring 6l willact tofpull the bar-25 backfand to collapse the lazy-tongs 25.

Disposed in avertical plane normal tothe .horirzontallplanefof'the latch 60 is'a switch bar l5 lpivotally'mounted intermediate its ends for os ycillating.movementon'a pivotpinll xedly attached to awall ofthe control boxl l. The upper end of the` switch bar l5 `is provided with a single contactbar 'l2 adapted toengage adouble contactlbar 'i3 attached tothe wall .of the control vbox,thet contact'bars l2 and "i3 'forming-in. effect a knife switch of the character wellknown. -A

conductor '14 connectsthe contact'bar l-3 with :one terminal of the electriclight bulb x'i5 in the llamp .housing 3l, and .-a` conductor l5 connects `therswitchbar (contact bar -12) to a battery .'l'l. `The otherterminalof thebulb 375 is grounded .asiat-i8 inthe manner well known.

-Pivotally vconnectedby a pin andislot connection A8l) and Slfrespectively to -thearms of .the

switch bar `lil are the plungers-llZ vand 83 that project outwardly of the control box ll l. Preferably the control boxl is so positioned with yreference tothe dash 54 .that the plungers -82 and-'83 also nproject therethrough. .The dash 84 lis-'recessedas'at'65 -to receivefthe knobs 86 provided on the endsof the plungers, whichfknobs are so. formed that they each will lie substanztiallyfflush with the .dash whenseated in their respective recess. .The plungers 82, 83- are ofthe same length so lthat when the plunger 83 is vpushed in, the plunger v82 will be vmoved out. Theupperarmofthe switch bar 'l5 .crosses the outer arm of the latch'lll and-isadapted to engage the Lsame to -swing -thelatch 50 clockwise so `as to effect a release of the latch with the lug 50 when the upper plunger83 is moved 'inwardly, see Fig. 6. This .movement will open'the light switch T2, 13 andcause the signalling device to assume the inoperative position s'hown in Fig. 1, in. the .manner .as describedhereinabove.

of the bell crank extends across the periphery of the worm wheel andis closely adjacent thereto. A tension coil spring 95 is connected at one end to the contact bar 92 and at its other end to a fixed pin 95 in dead center relation thereto, said spring acting to hold the contact bar 9i) in engagement with the contact bar 93 to close the switch or out of engagement therewith to open the switch depending upon which way the bell crank 9i) is moved. A conductor 91 connects the battery ll to contact bar 92, and a conductor 98 connects the contact bar 93 to one terminal of the electric motor 5S, the other terminal being grounded. rihus, with the motor switch closed the motor will operate to drive the worm 5|, rotation of which will cause the bar 20 to move outwardly to place the signalling apparatus in operative position as hereinabove described.

On the lower end of the switch bar l@ there is hingedly attached as at 99 an abutment it@ having a straight outer edge itil and a curved inner edge |02. With the motor switch closed and upon pushing the upper plunger 82 in, the AabutmentA |90 on the switch bar 'iii will freely ride over the end of the contact bar 92 which is preierably rounded. With the motor switch open, movement of the lower plunger S3 in, wili start the signalling apparatus to function, as the edge ||l| of the abutment will engage the contact bar 92 to move the same to close the switch which will start the motor 56 running.v

Provided on the face of the worm gear 5l cpposite to that carrying the pegs 59 are a plurality of trip pegs |95, each of right angle formation to provide a leg |56 normal to said worm gear face and rigidly attached thereto and a leg iti disposed parallel to said worm gear face and extending radially outwardly with relation thereto. In the preferred construction shown there are'three pegs 58 disposed 120 apart on one iace of the worm gear 5| and three trip pegs lilii also disposed 120 apart on the other face oi the worm gear 5| but onset with relation to the pegs 58-so that each trip peg is attached to the worm gear face at a point midway between the points of attachment of the pegs 58, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

'lhe legs |01 of each of the trip pegs it is oi such a length as to extend across and engage the arm 94 of the bell crank motor switch 9G. Thus, referring to Fig. 5, when the motor switch is closed, the leg |07 of a trip peg ii, moved by virtue of the rotation of the worm wheel 5i, will come to a point where it will engage the arm 94, continued movement causing the bell crank 90 to rotate about its pivot to open the switch whereby to stop the motor 55 and the rotation of the worm wheel 5|. Movement of the bell crank 9D beyond the dead center position oi the coil spring 95 will cause said spring to exert its force on the bell crank 90 to hold the same down. This operation of the motor switch is synchronized with the movement outwardly of the bar 20 by the peg 58, so that when the peg 59 engaging the lug 59 clears the same, the lug 5d will be engaged by the latch 50, and at this point a trip peg |05 will act to trip the bell crank 9d to open the motor switch, in the manner as hereinabove described.

From the above description it is apparent that the signalling apparatus is rendered operative by the operator of the vehicle simply pushing in the lower plunger 83 which normally is out, causing both the light switch and motor switch to close. The motor will rotate the worm gear which in turn will move the extending bar outwardly to extend the lazy-tongs. Extension of the lazy-tongs will rotate the indicator hand to its horizontal operative position. With the extending bar locked by the latch the motor is shut off when the motor switch is tripped open by one oi the trip pegs. To restore the indicator apparatus to its inoperative position, the operator has only to push in the upper plunger 82 which movement will open the light switch and at the saine time will also act on the latch to cause the latter to release the extending bar. Upon release of the extending bar, the same is retracted under the action of the spring return which movement also collapses the lazy-tongs and swings the indicator hand back to its upright inoperative position.

Having thus described the invention what ls claimed is:

l. A signalling apparatus for vehicles comprising, a lazy-tongs, means mounting the same exteriorly on a part of a vehicle body, a control housing mounted interiorly of said vehicle body in opposed relation to said mounting means, a bar slidably supported by said control housing and mounting means and connected at its outer end to said lazy-tongs to extend the same upon outward movement thereof, an indicator hand pivotally mounted on the free end of said lazytongs, illuminating means for said indicator hand mounted on said lazy-tongs adjacent said free end thereof, and power-operated means within said control housing connected to said bar for moving the same outwardly, said indicator hand being provided with an opening, means connecting said indicator hand to a link of said lazytongs, and operative upon extension of said lazytongs to swing said indicator hand from a normally upright inoperative position to a horizontal operative position when the lazy-tongs is fully extended whereby to bring Said opening into registry with said illuminating means so as to be visible from each side of said indicator hand.

2. A signalling apparatus for vehicles comprising, a lazy-tongs, means mounting the same exteriorly on a part oi a vehicle body, a control housing mounted interiorly of said vehicle body in opposed relation to said mounting means, a bar slidably supported by said control housing and mounting means and connected at its outer end to said lazy-tongs to extend the same upon outward movement thereof, an indicator hand pivotally mounted on the free end or" said lazytongs, illuminating means for said indicator hand mounted on said lazy-tongs adjacent said free end thereof, power-operated means within said control housing connected to said bar for moving the same outwardly, means for locking said bar upon a predetermined outward movement thereof, means operative upon said predetermined movement to render said power-operated means functionally inoperative, means for releasing said locking means, and spring return means connected to the outer end of said bar to retract the same and collapse said lazy-tongs when said locking means is released, said indicator hand being provided with an opening, a tension spring and flexible cable means connecting the base of said indicator hand to an intermediate link of said lazy-tongs and operative upon extension of said lazy-tongs to swing said indicator hand from a normally upright inoperative position to a horizontal operative position when the lazy-tongs is fully extended wheremesses? waaier-ing sain openirginto; registry iwithisaid `illuminatinglzneanssof'as to be l-visibleirom :ieaoh xAside Joflsaid indicator lhan'd,fsaid `'tei'ision spring iandfie'xible eable means .being also aoperative fv to bring saidlindicatorhand backto its :normal upright inoperative vlposition `when said locking -means 4is released andsaid lazy-',tongslis collapsed.

3. Afsignallingfapparatiisfor vehicles lcomprising; a .lazy-tongs, l-'means mounting the same '.exf terio'rl'y 2 on fa part: of .a :vehicle fbody, a ycontrol 'housing -mountecl interioifly 4of I said `vehiclefbody -infopposed relation to -saidlmou'nting lmeans,ia

lbar "slidably supported `by 'said control housing vandmountin'g means and-connected atL-itsouter AAendito said lazy-ton'gs'lto extend the same `,upon

'outward Amovement f thereof, an indicator hand pivotallylniounted on the "free endfofisaid lazytongs, illuminating meansiiorfsaidindicatorhand mounted on said lazy-tongsadjacentsaidfree end thereof, and spring return meansaconnected to said barto urge V.thelsame inwardly, aworm wheel rotatably -l mounted in i said -Seontrol thousing; `a worm 'meshing' with-said' wormlwheel, dexible shaft meansfconneeting said .worm to an 'electric motor, f a plurality-foi laterally viextending 'pegs xed Y'to-lone `face of said Vworm wheelf a depending lugf'xed to fsaid bar Jadjant the -innerfend'l thereof and arrangedtoliefinitiallyn vthe pathfoi movement-ioffsaid-ipegs whensaid .har is-in its-innermost position, so-thatassaid worm wheel vis Y'rotated 'fone 'of'v said ipegs wil1= engage -fsaid llug to impart anoutward movement ltossaid bar, 'said peg engagingsaid lug Ionlylduring a Y and imountingime'ans V"andconnected-I-at its outer `endv tosaid lazy-tongs Lto fextend lthe'fsame upon Youtward movement thereohan indicator hand pivotally mounted'on theliree endvoffsaid lazytongs, illuminating means for fsaid indicator4 hand mounted on Asaid lazy-tongs adjacent said free f end thereof, and springreturn-meanstconneoted to -said'barto urge the sameLinwardlmaf-worm Aa worm meshing Vvrwithsaid "worm wheel,A ffiexible shaft means `connecting said iw'orm toLan electriomotor; a pluralityv of laterally :extendingfpegs fixed to onet face of `said worm fwhee1,=-a dep ending lu'g fixed to Said --bar Yadjacent the :inner "end 1J thereof land arranged to: lieinitially ine the pathxoi A-move'ment of said -pegs when saidfbari'siniits innermost-position,- so that as Saidwormlwhe'el is rotated foneof A said pegs Will Yengage said lug toiimpart an!outwardfniovementto saidibar, -said -peg engaging saidlug `only during fa predetermined yarcuate movement of said rworm wheel, and latch =means operative 'to engage said `lug -`to hold vsaid bar against inward movement by -said spring return 4means when "the:peg engaging said lug clears the same.

-5. A signalling apparatus for .vehiclesleomprising, `alazyYAtongs-fmeanslrnountingi the isa-me: eX-

teriorly on #a #part-0i :a1-vehicle body, a control housing mounte'dinteriorly of :saidvehiele body lwheel rotatably mountedin saidcontrolhousing,1150

.is xintopposed#relation ntoxsaid :gmountingmeansg-a bar 1.s'lidabiy- @supported 'by s'aid-..contro1 housing land amounting means; and', connected -at itsbuter 4end :to ,f's'aidfllazytongs to I-eiztendftl'ie .same fupon outward. movement f-thereof, lian ,indica-tor, hand Apavotall'y m-ount-ed on thefree `end of .gsaidf lazy,- -.=tongs,-il1uminating means-forf-fsaid indicator hand :mounted fron zsaid :lazy-tongs,r adjacent.; said `:free end i thereof, rand spring return :means connected "to :said bar :tofurge the r same. inwardly, fa -worm wheel rotatabl'yf mounted in said control housiing, :aworm=meshing -Withsaidr'worm wheeLffiexl A.ible ishaft YAimea'ns Vzonneetinglsaid Worm` to an f' electriofmoto'r, a Lplurality of flaterally extending l ,pegs .xed to one'faee of saidwormwheelga'de- `:pending:,lugiiixed tosaidibar :adjacent the inner endthereof and tar-ranged sto -lie :initially lin the pathl ffmovementof saidspegs whensaid:-.bar is in its innermost position, so that las #said Worm vWheelisrotatedsone of said-pegs will'engage :said lugto imparttanioutward vmovement .to sa-idvfbar, :saidlpeg engaging said lug onlywduringraf-,predevvtermined farcuatemovement 'of saidworm wheel,- andilatch meansi operative a to engage :said lug ,to held, said barsagainsti inward movement by 'said spring return means ywhen fthepeg engaging :said lugsclearsitheisame, said fcontrolie'housing including a motor switch f and :aKA separate -tlight ,switch Yfor, said illuminatingzmeans, a' switch-'barpivotsally mounted'intermediate its ends, -zagpair Vof -uppe'randflower plungers 4each connected to an arm of said switch-bari.andslidablyesupportedIby `said housing, 'the `arrangement being -such `that y,when -ithe lower .plungen is ,pushed in i the :upper plun'ge'r .isipushed out, -means on the uppery end '.of said switch bar operative to Close said vlight fvswitehfandsmeansson the lower endlof :said-switch bar adaptedlto move-themotor:switchinto closed position -when isaid Vswitch shardsvactuated by inlward .movement Lof theilower 'plunger whereby :said :signalling apparatus A:is `rendered functionally l r operative.

`:means nto reieaseith-e same wherebyl said` .bar :is

V'moved `inwardly Aunderlthe vaetionof the spring 'return meansrtofcollapse saidlaZy-tongs. .PETER ;A. PETERSON.- .HERMANfsIEBER-T.

The ffollow'ing references #are of recordl in .-the fiile "of this patent:

'.UNI'IED STATES P /X'IENTS Number 4Name Date 1,299,361 :Lieberman IApr. 11,. 1919 @1,369,998 v`'Wolter eiMar. 1, -1921 .1,452,681 =Eujimoto:et al. Apr. 24.1923 1,'4'12g186 A:Morris Y jOct. 3.0, 1923 11,557,064 Kerr i Got. 13, 7.13923 v1,962,652 vGood June12,1934 ,2,084,984 Bedford etal. Junet29, 193'? 2,106,660 Ross Jan.v25, v1931i

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